Canon Nigel Coates will be retiring as Canon Chancellor on 30th September 2019. Southwell Minster will hold a farewell service on Sunday 22nd September at 10.30am followed by a reception.
The Dean of Southwell the Very Revd Nicola Sullivan says:
‘Nigel has been a much loved and highly regarded residentiary Canon of the Cathedral over the last 14 years. Many in the parish and Minster community will have been helped by his compassionate pastoral work and support. During the last three years he has taken a lead in developing the Chapter House Leaves project, building on his passionate interest, considerable knowledge and love for these unique stone carvings. Nigel has had oversight of education and served on the Governing Body of the Minster school. He held the Cathedral as Acting Dean through two long vacancies and he and his wife Rhoda are well known in the town and wider community. We will miss them.”
Nigel and Rhoda will continue to live in Vicars Court until the end of the year so that Nigel can complete some Leaves Project work, including writing new guidebooks, before they move to the New Forest.
Nigel says:
“It has been an enormous privilege to have served at Southwell Minster as Canon Pastor, Acting Dean and Canon Chancellor for nearly 15 years and it will hard to leave. We have very much enjoyed being part of this community and meeting visitors from across the world who come to see the Cathedral.
“It has also been a great privilege to have been associated with a remarkable building that is rooted in so much of our history and which continues to speak to us today of contemporary concerns. I look forward in retirement to a continuing association with the Leaves Project and with reconnecting with the Leaves of the New Forest where our roots lie and where I hope to take up wood carving again.”